Systematic test management – a success factor for SAP S/4HANA go-lives

Testing, testing, testing is the motto before new software solutions are launched. The system, its functions, and the processes across modules and divisions must be checked systematically at an early stage so that the software can be launched on time and then run smoothly. Structured testing in advance also promotes user acceptance, encouraging people to use the system correctly, efficiently, and in accordance with the defined business processes. Therefore, test management plays a central role in the success of each launch project. This is especially true for complex SAP S/4HANA transformations.

In practice, however, test management is often underestimated and uncoordinated. Individual project members’ tests are not coordinated or structured, and they are conducted only in their respective areas; the important integrative testing of process chains across multiple streams, modules, and interfaces is neglected. This comes back to haunt companies: Defects and gaps in the implementation are sometimes only detected so late that the go-live date has to be postponed. This results in higher costs and can significantly reduce the overall quality of the implementation. It also does not do justice to the significant expenditures on a future-oriented SAP S/4HANA project, one that is intended to catapult the company forward technologically.

Professional testing from a single source

This is why companies are well-advised to provide structured, professionally managed test management as part of an SAP S/4HANA implementation. Experienced partners such as valantic are well-positioned to handle this task within the implementation project. Customers can therefore be sure that their new business solution will be adequately tested, and they do not have to worry about the design and support of the test phases. At the same time, they gain time they can use for strategic tasks.

Professional test management ensures that all tests are traceable, repeatable, and audit-proofed and can be carried out economically within the planned period. Our valantic experts are experienced test managers and take care of all aspects of systematic testing: From setting up the test organization to follow-up with defect management and detailed reporting. We work using our own test methodology, which has proven itself many times over in both greenfield and brownfield projects. Our approach is based on international standards.

Prepare software tests early

Successful test management must be set up at an early stage, ideally already in the preparation phase of an SAP Activate project. The planning of each test is done in the Explore phase, with scope defined in joint scoping workshops. In the Realize phase, the customer carries out the tests; valantic accompanies this with monitoring. During testing, individual components and functional units (function tests), the interaction of functions and modules across different areas and modules (integration tests), and the functioning of business processes from the user’s point of view (user acceptance tests) are under test. The regression tests are finally carried out in later operation, in the Run phase. The functionality of mission-critical processes and functions is checked after changes have been imported and during rollouts.

Test and process management go hand in hand

Another success factor of our valantic test methodology is the close connection to process management, which allows test cases to be derived directly from the processes. The targeted use of proven tools such as SAP Signavio and SAP Solution Manager greatly simplifies the design of test cases. The synergies between process and test management resulting from the coordinated procedures reduce the workload, and this also gives valantic customers a single point of contact for their SAP S/4HANA project.

valantic’s test methodology incorporates the most common test management tools, including SAP Solution Manager, Jira Xray, Zephyr Scale, HP Application Lifecycle Management, and Cloud ALM. In projects, our experts always use the tools that best meet the requirements and customers’ needs. By combining our methodology with common tools, we pave the way for test automation.

Good marks from auditors

valantic customers receive detailed reporting during each test phase, so that the quality of the implementation is ensured and overall acceptance at go-live will be given. The early maintenance and complete documentation of all test activities not only produce noticeable efficiency and cost advantages, not to mention greater transparency for the project, but also ensure that there are fewer complaints during the annual financial statements audit and that there is no tiresome reworking. Audit-proof documentation is particularly important in the financial sector, where the new system must be approved by auditors. Here we have consistently received good marks in customer projects with the valantic test design and our methodology.